Indian govt bans 45 Youtube videos from 10 channels including Dhruv Rathee’s for promoting anti-India & religious hatred
'The videos contained fake news, claims & disrupted public order,' claimed the government.
The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has directed online video sharing and social media platform – YouTube to block 45 videos from 10 channels. The blocked videos had a cumulative viewership of over 1 crore 30 lakh views. YouTuber Dhruv Rathi’s video is among those blocked.
In its order, the ministry stated ‘Orders to delete the identified videos have been issued on 23 september 2022. This action is being taken under the provisions of IT Rules 2021.’
“The content included fake news and morphed videos spread with the intent to spread hatred among religious communities. Examples include false claims such as the Government has taken away the religious rights of certain communities, violent threats against religious communities, declaration of civil war in India, etc,” it adds.
The videos that have been taken down include 13 from a YouTube channel called The Live TV, nine from Hind Voice, six each from Inqilab Live and Desh India Live, four from Mr Reaction Wala, two each from GetsetflyFACT and 4PM, and one each from the channels of Vinay Pratap Singh Bhopar, National Adda, and Dhruv Rathi, according to The Indian Express.
The content blocked by the ministry was found to be detrimental to sovereignty and integrity of India, security of the State, India’s friendly relations with foreign States, and public order in the country.
Last month also, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting blocked 7 Indian and 1 Pakistan-based YouTube channel under IT rules, 2021. The ministry has informed that the blocked channels had a combined viewership of over 144 crores, and a total of 85 lakhs 73 thousand subscribers.
The channels were blocked for airing fake anti-India content and earning money from it. Apart from the above Youtube channels, the Facebook account of Loktantra TV was also banned then.
